Geoffrey McKinnon died because the blade he was stabbed with nearly four years ago cut both a major artery and a major vein, a state medical examiner said Thursday.

Testifying during the fifth day of Daniel Gonzalez's murder trial in Middlesex Superior Cour, Dr. Peter Cummings said it would have probably taken "hours" for McKinnon to die after he was stabbed on June 14, 2009, in his 307A Grant St., apartment.

Cummings said McKinnon suffered three "sharp-force injuries." The most damaging one was in his abdomen. That wound was 3/4 of an inch wide and five inches deep.

Cummings testified that the weapon went through the small bowel, cut into a large artery that goes to the leg from the heart, and cut a vein that connected the legs and heart.

The second abdominal wound, near his belly button, was the same width and depth, and it also cut the small bowel, Cummings said.

The third wound was on McKinnon's face, slicing down across his nose.

"The cause of death is injuries to the small bowel and major blood vessels," said Cummings.

Asked by prosecutor Joe Gentile how long it would take for McKinnon to die, Cummings estimated it would have taken hours.

Gentile also asked about the depth of the wounds. The blade of the knife authorities say Gonzalez stabbed McKinnon with was three and a half inches long, while the wounds to the stomach were both five inches deep. Cummings said a five-inch long blade would not be required to create such a wound.

"If you push in your belly, it's compressible," said Cummings. "So if something touches your abdomen, there will be some give there."

McKinnon also sustained several blunt force injuries, the medical examiner said. McKinnon had a large abrasion on the right cheek, and the insides of both lips were bruised. He also had abrasions on the left side of his neck, his right shoulder and two on his right forearm, and a small cut on his left index finger, Cummings said.

Gonzalez's lawyer Eduardo Masferrer asked if the wound on McKinnon's finger could have been caused by him punching someone and having it cut on a tooth. Cummings said it could have been.

Cummings also said he could not say how McKinnon got any of the abrasions, including the large, square shaped one on his face.

"There's nothing about that abrasion that tells me how it happened," he said.

Forensic scientist Erik Koester also testified, telling the jury about the blood tests he conducted. He said no blood was found on any of the clothing Gonzalez and friend James Cowperthwaite were wearing when police took them into custody.

A third man who was at the Grant Street apartment at the time of the stabbing, Paul Silveira, had blood on several pieces of the clothing he wore, Koester said.

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There was also blood found on some clothing found at Cowperthwaite's Elliot Street apartment, Koester said.

The knife authorities say Gonzalez used had blood on the sharp portion of the blade, but nowhere else, he said.

The trial is scheduled to continue today. Gentile told Judge Kathe Tuttman he has three witnesses left to call, including Silveira, whom authorities said is the only witness to the murder.

Gonzalez remains held without bail, charged with first-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For live trial updates, follow Norman Miller on Twitter at @Norman_MillerMW, #gonzalezmurdertrial.